Controls Engineer

De Nora Group; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

De Nora Group is seeking a Controls Engineer in Philadelphia to support the design, development, and deployment of automation and control systems. The ideal candidate will hold a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and have solid experience with PLC and HMI systems. Responsibilities include designing electrical systems, selecting automation hardware, and collaborating with various internal teams. The role involves travel up to 25% of the time and offers opportunities to contribute to water treatment innovations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or related field.
• Experience in industrial control systems, including PLC and HMI design.
• Strong knowledge of electrical engineering principles and control systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop electrical and control systems for automation.
• Select automation hardware and define control strategies.
• Produce and maintain engineering documentation for project execution.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI design

Electrical engineering principles

Analytical problem-solving

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

SAP

Job description

About the Role

We are seeking a Controls Engineer to support the design, development, programming, and deployment of automation and control systems for engineered solutions within the Water Technologies business. In this role, you will translate process requirements into reliable electrical and control system architectures, contributing to the delivery of safe, compliant, and high‑performing solutions for water treatment applications. You will work across the full project lifecycle—from design and documentation to testing, commissioning, and operational support—collaborating closely with process, mechanical, and electrical engineering teams, fabrication partners, and pilot commissioning teams to ensure robust and scalable automation solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop electrical and control systems, translating process requirements into reliable automation architectures, including PLC and HMI solutions.
• Select automation hardware and define control strategies in compliance with engineering and safety standards. Select and review process instruments and automation equipment required to meet project requirements.
• Produce and maintain comprehensive engineering documentation to support fabrication and project execution.
• Support the full project lifecycle, including planning, scheduling, testing, commissioning, and troubleshooting activities.
• Collaborate with internal teams and customers, providing technical input for execution, proposals, and product development.
• Contribute to continuous improvement through standards development, new engineering methods, and optimization initiatives, ensuring health and safety compliance.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Computer Science, Instrumentation, or a related field.
• Solid experience in industrial control systems, including PLC and HMI design, programming, and troubleshooting within process‑based environments.
• Strong knowledge of electrical engineering principles, control systems, industrial communication protocols, and applicable safety standards.
• Ability to produce, interpret, and maintain technical documentation (e.g., schematics, I/O lists, control diagrams, detailed HMI description and operation docs, and system specifications).
• Analytical and problem‑solving mindset, combined with clear communication and effective collaboration with cross‑functional and external stakeholders.
• Availability to travel approximately 15–25% of the time to job sites, vendors, or other De Nora locations.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in the water treatment or environmental technology industry.
• Field experience supporting commissioning, start‑up, or troubleshooting activities, including SCADA integration.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD Electrical, ERP systems (e.g., SAP), and multiple PLC programming languages.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., EIT, PE, or PLC/HMI vendor certifications).